Apparatus and methods for marking optical fibers using a deflected ink stream

A method of marking an optical fiber, comprising:

• causing at least one optical fiber to move along a fiber path that resides adjacent and spaced apart from a continuous-flow ink stream comprising ink flowing from a dispenser to a container uninterrupted by a gap, wherein the at least one optical fiber has an outer surface;
• intermittently deflecting the continuous-flow ink stream with a gas jet made intermittently incident upon the continuous-flow ink stream to form an intermittently deflected ink stream, at least a portion of the at least one optical fiber intermittently entering the intermittently deflected ink stream forming wet marks on the outer surface of the at least one optical fiber;
• drying the wet marks at a drying location to form dried marks;
• and
• applying a substantially transparent protective coating over the dried marks and the outer surface of the at least one optical fiber, wherein the dried marks are visible through the substantially transparent protective coating.